2011 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions' Top 25 Potential Picks

The time leading up the NFL draft is always filled with much speculation, hope and of course there is always a little bit of controversy

Debates over which team takes who and whose stock is rising or falling rage on, and to be honest it is quite a beautiful thing!

For fans of the Detroit Lions the draft marks a special time of the year where hope and optimism for the upcoming season are in full swing, and this year there seems to be much more reason than usual to be drinking that Honolulu blue kool-aid.

You’ve seen mocks predicting who the Lions will take and with what pick, but here is a realistic look at the top 25 players the Detroit Lions should pick if they are available:

22. Lawrence Wilson: Connecticut

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Wilson is a guy that the Lions would look to draft real late with the hopes of turning him into a project. He has the raw abilities to perhaps be a starter in the NFL, but the questions is whether or not the Lions feel that they are in the position to start taking on project players.

His greatest strength is tackling and he is very aggressive to the point of attack.

20. John Clay: Wisconsin

Clay is a guy that the Lions will want to look for in the fourth or fifth round if they feel the need to establish a strong running threat to go behind Jahvid Best on the depth chart.

He is your typical north-south head to the ground runner, and would factor in very nicely in goal line situations.

The truth of the matter is that Best is going to eventually need a powerful runner that will take the pressure off of him, and if the Lions feel they have addressed some fundamental needs in the early rounds I can see them taking a look at John Clay.

11. Casey Matthews: Oregon

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It’s not a lock, but you pretty much know what you are going to get from Casey Matthews.He is going to hustle on every play, never give up pursuing the ball and is going to make a handful of impact plays throughout the course of a season.

He has the ability to mature into an every down linebacker in the NFL, and there is no question about his pedigree.

The thing about Matthews is that his name alone could get him picked higher than what he might deserve, but at the same time he might actually be deserving of a high pick.

10. Cameron Jordan: California

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Jordan is a big power threat coming off of the end, but he is surprisingly quick for his size.

He utilizes a great club move and some crafty hands to work his way to the quarterback. He plays with a low pad level which usually helps him to establish leverage, so you definitely want to keep in with his hands on the ground.

The reports say that he would be best suited for a 4-3 defense but in the Lions case he would work well at the power end position.

He would be a great compliment to Suh, and could benefit from a year or two of tutelage from the veterans on the line.

1. Prince Amakamura: Nebraska

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Obviously this would be a dream scenario for the Lions so if it came up I can all but guarantee you they will pull the trigger.

If for some reason Amukamara were to slip to No. 13 the Lions would be getting the value of a top ten pick, which would be enough in most cases, but in reality they are also locking up a franchise cornerstone.

Amukamara plays lock-down coverage and has above average speed and ball skills that will enable him to make some plays for the defense. He is also a strong weapon to have against the run game, which at the corner position is always a plus.